By Canadian Press

Agent for Montreal Canadiens captain Max Pacioretty denies trade request

Aug 30, 2018 | 1:17 PM

MONTREAL — Max Pacioretty’s agent has denied a report saying his client has asked to be traded.

Agent Allan Walsh said Tuesday on his verified account on Twitter that the Canadiens captain has repeatedly expressed his wish to stay in Montreal.

A report on Radio-Canada said three reliable sources confirmed that Pacioretty asked out of Montreal several times. It said he first requested a trade in 2013-14, two years before he was named captain.

“Max Pacioretty has stated repeatedly that he loves Montreal and wants to remain in Montreal,” said Walsh. “To this date, he’s never received any offer from Montreal. You can have 3 sources or 10 sources, how many times does Max have to state that he wants to remain in Montreal long term?”

In another Tweet, Walsh said: “Obvious these ‘sources’ are coming from the club. Max will always take the high road and repeats again, he is ready to sign an extension with Montreal TODAY. It was Montreal that traded Max to LA at the draft and it was a DONE DEAL subject to Max signing an extension with LA.”

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There were reports in June that a deal to send Pacioretty to the Los Angeles Kings fell through when the two sides did not agree on a contract.

Pacioretty is entering the final year of a team-friendly six-year deal worth US$4.5 million per season and can become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the 2018-19 campaign.

There have been no negotiations on a contract extension, which suggests the Canadiens will try to trade him.

Pacioretty has scored 30 or more goals in five of the last six full NHL seasons, although he slumped to 17 last season.

The Canadian Press